Developing the
Next Generation
of Outstanding
Researchers

Postdoctoral Fellows

Postdoctoral Fellows at the Michael Smith Laboratories

The Michael Smith Laboratories is home to many postdoctoral fellows looking for further professional and academic development following their doctoral studies. During their time at the MSL, postdocs have the opportunity to advance research, mentor students, and participate in professional development and social activities. Many of our postdocs go on to hold academic positions and establish their own labs around the world, or to work in the corporate biotechnology sector.

Postdoctoral Fellows

MSL Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate Committee

The MSL Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate Committee formed in 2024 to help connect and build a community outside of their research activities. The committee organizes networking events, career development workshops, and invited speaker seminars, allowing our postdocs to be directly involved in shaping their career trajectories.

2025 Committee Members

Huan Zhong (Foster lab), Fangwu Wang (Hirst lab), Lars Kruse (Bohlmann lab), Santanu Sasidharan (Tokuriki lab), Nikko Jeffreys (Zandstra lab), and (not pictured) Suiyang Liao (Blakney lab) and Ashleigh Willis (Miller lab).

Committee Alumni

Michael Easson (Bohlmann lab), Christine Eisner (Miller lab), Marissa Lithopoulos (Miller lab; Founding Chair)

Events

The Postdoc Committee hosts multiple workshops and social events throughout the year. Examples of events from the past year include:

  • Work-In-Progress Seminar Series
  • Research Award Writing Workshop
  • Town Hall with MSL Leadership
  • Afternoon Appetizer Social
  • Grant Review Panel Workshop

Upcoming events and workshops organized by the committee are featured on our events calendar.

Postdoctoral Fellows

Postdoctoral Fellow Communications Group

The Postdoctoral Fellow Communications Group is an opportunity for postdoctoral fellows to expand on their science communication skills under the guidance of the MSL’s Communications Coordinator and Operations Manager. Over the course of four months, postdocs in this group learn how to communicate with diverse audiences through working on unique, exciting, and creative communication projects shared through the MSL communication channels, including articles published to our website.

In recognition of the time that goes into these communication projects, postdocs receive an honorarium at the end of their time in the group.

Written by Our Postdoctoral Fellows

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Postdoctoral Fellows

Pathway to Independence Award

Launched in 2024, the Michael Smith Laboratories Pathway to Independence Award aims to support the research and career development of outstanding MSL Postdoctoral Fellows and Research Associates. These awards help them in leading new, 12-month projects aligned with their future career research focuses, which could lead to the generation of preliminary data for future grant applications to external funding agencies.

Previous Pathway to Independence Award Recipients

Year

Recipients

Supervisor

2025

Morito Sakuma

Jeff Doherty

Tiam Heydari

Nobuhiko Tokuriki

Leonard Foster

Peter Zandstra

2024

Lars Kruse

Marissa Lithopoulos

Ross Jones

Santanu Sadisharan

Jörg Bohlmann

Freda Miller

Peter Zandstra

Nobuhiko Tokuriki

Postdoctoral Fellows

Resources for New Postdoctoral Fellows

The Postdoc Committee has assembled a resource package for postdocs looking for information about the MSL, benefits, opportunities and more. 

Download the Resource Package

The committee has also prepared a comprehensive list of available fellowships for postdocs.

View Available Fellowships

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